Directions: Instead of posting on this page, go ahead and type your first and final drafts by using the editing tools on this page. For example, to get started, type in the first draft of your first argumentative paper today. The FINAL draft will be due Friday, Oct. 4. Or, if you don't want the whole class to see it, you can email your paper to me: tconrad@weber.edu.
Latifa Aldakhil Dr. Tim Conrad English 2010 November 2013 About Media Since the emergence of TV the world became small. Through this huge technical expansion and spread satellite channels. These channels are different from each other such as, medical, news, documentary, cultural and informatics channels. Did not stop at this point, but also went farther than that. Satellite channels are one of the largest marketers in the world. You can find any thing you want, you like, or you need. Channels make life easier and comfortable for all generations. Television has become the most popular home entertainment machine for all ages. Also, channels have become one of the most important entertainments for all different social classes. Serve communities in all domains, so the most type people liked is the funny way more than serious way, in news, schools, work, television, and home. So I will be write about The Daily Show Program, Al Bernameg Program, and tech students in comedy way. Those points it would help my writing to improve my opinion. The Daily Show is an U.S. program and it is a popular program around the world. Talked about political issues in a comedy way. According to, Wilson-Smith: “That's not as surprising -- or silly -- as it first seems. Smart, hip interviewers like Mercer and Stewart often pose irreverent and unpredictable questions that traditional journalists wouldn't ask -- so they force newsmakers to respond quickly in a way that gives more insight into their personalities. The essence of good comedy is the speed with which it cuts to the chase -- so the result is a pointed summary of events aimed at reflecting the public mindset. And news today is increasingly commodified: who delivers it -- and the manner in which they do so -- matters as much or more than the information itself. Mercer and Stewart inform even as they entertain. Which of those qualities matters most? Like it or not, that's become a tougher question for journalists to answer as consumers feel sated by information overload. Welcome, in short, to the post-news era.” In other word, Wilson-Smith saying that the Daily Show become not something weird or strange as it was looks like. Mercer and Stewart were intelligent, for example there questions when they interview people. Also you just surprise for their questions and you can’t guess. The conventional reporters didn’t ask, so they impose news producer to reply in short time, so that make them much prudence in their characters. The secret of perfect comedy is the fast to remove the follow up, so the score is a synopsis of news aimed reverberate the public senses. News today become a produce, and the way in which they do, so ways as much or more than the knowledge itself. Mercer and Stewart introduce the entertainment. Which of these types more important? You want or not, that's become more stringent question for reporters to answer as customers feel full by knowledge and turn to overburden. Now welcome to the time of news. Any program before they started, search for ideas like how to get consumer's attention. Everybody knows that the satire news good way to attract people in any country around this world, especially, if this program speak about political or religious issues in funny style. After what happen in Middle East in what called Arab Spring, a lot of events happened it have been changed life style for a million of million of Arab People around Arab countries includes jobs, schools, and television. So according to, Mike Giglio: “After decades of disuse, the complex has recently been revived by Youssef, the Jon Stewart-styled host of a wildly popular satirical talk show, who is fast becoming Egypt's biggest new star. Youssef moved into the studio for the start of his second season late last year. Called Al Bernameg, Arabic for "The Program," the weekly show -- which sees Youssef dissecting the country's contentious politics with a Stewart-like mix of impishness and exasperation -- started after the 2011 revolution as a YouTube series filmed in Youssef's living room. Youssef discovered, is fertile ground for political satire these days. "I think it was just the right moment, doing it the right way," he says of his show. "It all happened so fast." In other word, Mike Giglio said: After years of years of wastage, and Youssef recently he copy up this program style for Jon Stewart, so Youssef become so famous in Egypt quickly. His program is called in Arabic Al Bernameg which means program in English, and it is once a week. So it discuss political and religious issues in comedy way. And those issues started after 2011 anarchy. Youssef saying that is just the moment of truth, I did it in a good way, and everything happened fast. The people faced sad things in their life, even if they are kids, adults, workers, and students. So the people want to have funny things in their life, for example to tech students in comedy way to make them feel comfortable. According to, Skinner and Fowler: “It was our first examination as college freshman, a history exam, all essay. It was very scary. Seeming to sense our trepidation, the professor took five minutes before the exam to read short vignettes consisting of humorous accounts of the historical characters and events that we had so seriously studied in preparation for the exam. The stories evoked laughter even from the most stoic of students. Students were noticeably more relaxed after this brief interlude and, although I can't prove it, most likely performed better on the exam.” In other word, Skinner and Fowler said: we were taking our first test as beginner in college, it was a history quiz, every article was awful, but fear seems just like feeling. The professor took five minutes before test started, to read funny stories about famous characters in history. That is make us felt comfortable before test. Actually I can’t prove it, but for sure is a good idea before having a test. In conclusion, all the people around the world, does not matter what language they speak, what country they are from, or what religion they believe? All are the same in feeling or in suffering. So we agree that all people in anywhere like funny ways more than serious ways. Maybe because we as a human being we faced hard situations, so we liked to escape from our serious life to have fun, by watching or reading in funny ways. I wrote about The Daily Show Program, Al Bernameg, and tech students in comedy way. I think that funny ways are like to remove all pains from our hearts. At that time, I believe that we need to have fun such as we need to eat, drink, and sleep. Finally, I hope those points improve my opinion about having fun in our life to change our mood. Work Cited Giglio, Mike. "Egypt's 'Daily Show'." Newsweek 161.10 (2013): 1. MAS Ultra – School Edition. Web. 8 Apr. 2013. Skinner, Michael E. "All Joking Aside: Five Reasons To Use Humor In The Classroom." Education Digest: Essential Readings Condensed For Quick Review 76.2 (2010): 19-21. ERIC. Web. 8 Apr. 2013. Wilson-Smith, Anthony. "Making Fun of the News." Maclean's 16 Feb. 2004: 4. MAS Ultra - School Edition. Web. 8 Apr. 2013.
LatifaAldakhil Dr. Tim Conrad English 2010 10/05/2013
Educate the Children of Illegal Immigrants
Do you have an idea how many illegal immigrants come to the United States every year? According to Bill Whitaker, “Illegal immigrants are just seven percent of Arizona's population” (cbsnews.com). Basically, Bill Whitaker is saying that Illegal immigrants make up about 7% of the people who live in Arizona. However, this 7% is just in one state. How about other states? A lot of illegal immigrants come to the United States because they think that they will have better life. Many people come from Mexico and Cuba…etc. They crossed the border to be in the United States and to have a good life. Many people who are illegal immigrants came from a poor country and their country is not strong economically. Also, they think if they get a job in the United States they will have a good chance to live happily for them and their kids, so they come here, and they don’t worry if it is legal or illegal. In addition, there are many children of illegal immigrants in the United States. A lot of American people are arguing that the children of illegal immigrants should or shouldn’t be educated. My opinion is America should educate the children of illegal immigrants because everyone has the right to be educated. However, some people think that America shouldn’t educate the children of illegal immigrants because education is not free as we thought, most of them didn’t speak English, to reduce increasing numbers of illegal immigrants, and to enforce the law.
Any country in the world gives education a lot of attention, more than anything else. Manu Goel writes, “The importance of education cannot be neglected by any nation” (http://mgoel.wrytestuff.com). In other words, Manu Goel believes that any country in the world will not disregard the value of education. Everyone has the right to be educated, even if he is poor, rich, legal or illegal. Also, the people who are illegal immigrants need to study because they want to communicate with other people who speak the English language. In addition, they need to learn the English language to understand the law of the United States and the rules of public places. For example, when I came to the United States, I made a mistake in the public transportation because I didn’t know the rules, and a lot of my friends from my country made the same mistake. Also they have to be educated to have a good future, to get jobs, and they need to be equal because they are still humans. In addition, we need to let the children of illegal immigrants to be educated to not become criminals. For example, if we didn’t let them study and go to the school, that means they will stay in their home, and they will probably do horrible things.
However, a lot of people think that we shouldn’t educate the children of illegal immigrants because education is not free, as what we thought. The American people paid a lot of money in taxes for education. Also, if there are a lot of students who are illegal immigrants, it means the American people pay a lot of money for education.
Even then, most of them don’t speak English language. So that is making it very hard for teachers. Also, they can’t communicate with others except those who speak their language, or the schools should bring a translator for them and that costs a lot of money. For example, when I came to the United States, I needed a translator in everywhere, such as hospitals and schools.
In addition, they will keep coming if we don’t reduce increasing numbers of illegal immigrants. By letting them living like American residents and not paying any money, they will keep coming forever. That is our responsibility to reduce them. They found the life here is good for them, and they can have children.
Also, illegal immigrants need to enforce the law. For example, if anyone can come to the United States without permission, it will be dangerous for us. Maybe some of them are criminals, and they escaped from prisons. In addition, I am a legal immigrant. I came from different culture, and I believe that some of the children of illegal immigrants have been coming from poor areas and they have bad morals and I don’t want my kids to learn bad morals.
In conclusion, illegal immigrants are still humans even if they are Illegal, so they deserve another chance for living. All sides have good reasons to show their points, like the people who believe that America should not educate the children of illegal immigrants because education is not free, most of the children didn’t speak English, to reduce increasing numbers of illegal immigrants, and to enforce the law. However, the people who think that America should educate the children of illegal immigrants have different reasons such as everyone has the right to educate, to communicate, to know the rules, to have a good future, and for the children to not become criminals. I believe that we should let them be educated because they are just children, and they are the future for our world.
Latifa, very well-written essay including your own analysis while also clearly summarizing your sources. Here is your essay again, with a few corrections I added:
Can you find THREE changes and tell me WHY you think I made those changes? You can post your answers here on this page.
Latifa Aldakhil Dr. Tim Conrad English 2010 October first, 2013
“Marriage between Islam and Culture”
Do you know that marriage in Islam is an act of worship? According to the Prophet Mohammed (peace and blessings be upon him) he said, “When a man gets married, he gets one half of the religion” (islambasics.com, par 3). It means after a man is married, he completes an important part of the religion. Marriage in our religion is really important, especially for men, because in our culture, almost all the men couldn’t live without women, but the women could live without men. That is the reason to allow a man to marry four women. Also, the women in our culture worry about their children more than about their husbands. For example, if any woman from my country is widowed or divorced and she has children, she prefers to take care of her children more than to marry again. Some people from different cultures and religions mix up our religion and culture. Our culture has a lot of mistakes and it came from an old culture before Islam, so Islam came to correct those mistakes in Arab culture. There are two articles written by Elie Elhadj, and another by Reem Sultan. The first author wrote about “In Defense of Pre-Islamic Arabian Culture”, and the second author wrote about “Marriage in Islam”. Culture and Islam are so different in marriage; Islam had different rules from our culture. Every culture has bad rules, especially about issues of honor. This issue is the most famous issue in the Middle East and India. Also this issue is not related to religion but to culture. If we looked up in the law for the punishment for man and woman in honor issue, we will see that the punishment in our culture is just for the woman and the man is free, but in our religion both of them should take their punishment equally, and it depends if they are married or not.
One of the mistakes in our culture is, if a woman and a man get engaged in Islam, they have the right to see each other, but in our culture they don’t have any right to see each other. Clearly, in Islam if the man decides to marry, his female relatives start to look for a girl who fits with his requirements. After they find a girl, they go to ask her family for marriage. Now her family starts to ask about the man who asked them for their daughter. If they find that he is a good man and he fits with their daughter, they go to ask the girl if she accepts him. Then the man comes to see the girl who wants to marry him and she can see the man who asked her to marry. After that, both of them have a few days to decide about the marriage. In the case of the woman, her family asked her, and if she answers “no” that is clear for them, but if she doesn’t give an answer because she is shy, that means she accepts him to marry. In the case of the man, if he comes back again for this family that means he likes her and he wants to marry her. But in our culture, the marriage in the beginning is the same as in Islam, but in the middle it is different, because some of the families don’t ask their daughter for marriage, they just choose for her what they want, and they never ask her opinion or let her see the man who will marry her until the night of the wedding. So these unfair rules for our culture are not related to Islam.
According to Reem Sultan, seems essential to discuss marriage forms, which existed before Islam. In those days many kinds of different marriages existed; there was no limit on the number of wives that any one man could have”(www.zawaj.com, par 1). In other words, Reem Sultan said, that marriage before Islam came had many forms for different marriages, and the men could have unlimited wives. So Islam came and put a rule to save women’s right that the men could not marry more than four wives. So that’s why we said that Islam took our grandfathers, our grandmothers, and us, from darkness to the light. You can’t imagine that the people lived in Jahiliyya age (the people who lived before Islam). Elie Elhadj wrote, “The pre-Islamic epoch in Arabia has become commonly known as the age of Jahiliyya, meaning the age of barbarism, darkness, and ignorance of God’s guidance” (daringopinion.com, par 1). Basically, Elie Elhadj is saying that the period before Islam in Arab land was known as Jahiliyya because the people in that period were illiterate and uneducated, and the time was darkness and a time lost from God’s commands. Also, that proves that Islam came to give the people a better life.
Marriage in Islam is so important for a lot of reasons. Reem Sultan said, “Reproduction in an organized wholesome manner is admittedly the ultimate objective in the institution of marriage” (http://www.zawaj.com, par 5). Reem Sultan believes that marriage is a kind of cloning in healthy orders and the final goals are to stay in married life. In addition to that, there are a lot of different reasons to support the importance of marriage. Such as, adultery has become a crime in Islam, so the best solution for that is marriage. In conclusion, both authors wrote about Islam. Elie Elhadj offered in his article about the time before Islam and wrote about the similarity of things between Islam and Jahiliyya. Reem Sultan dealt with marriage in Islam, and she includes many important topics in her article, such as, marriage as an exclusive relationship, significance of marriage and functions of marriage. Finally, I tried to explain the difference between Islam and our culture in marriage. I have given some examples from our culture, and how it showed wrong rules. Islam has solutions for every problem. I hope you like what I wrote about my religion and my culture.
Latifa Aldakhil
Dr. Tim Conrad
English 2010
November 2013
About Media
Since the emergence of TV the world became small. Through this huge technical expansion and spread satellite channels. These channels are different from each other such as, medical, news, documentary, cultural and informatics channels. Did not stop at this point, but also went farther than that. Satellite channels are one of the largest marketers in the world. You can find any thing you want, you like, or you need. Channels make life easier and comfortable for all generations. Television has become the most popular home entertainment machine for all ages. Also, channels have become one of the most important entertainments for all different social classes. Serve communities in all domains, so the most type people liked is the funny way more than serious way, in news, schools, work, television, and home. So I will be write about The Daily Show Program, Al Bernameg Program, and tech students in comedy way. Those points it would help my writing to improve my opinion.
The Daily Show is an U.S. program and it is a popular program around the world. Talked about political issues in a comedy way. According to, Wilson-Smith: “That's not as surprising -- or silly -- as it first seems. Smart, hip interviewers like Mercer and Stewart often pose irreverent and unpredictable questions that traditional journalists wouldn't ask -- so they force newsmakers to respond quickly in a way that gives more insight into their personalities. The essence of good comedy is the speed with which it cuts to the chase -- so the result is a pointed summary of events aimed at reflecting the public mindset. And news today is increasingly commodified: who delivers it -- and the manner in which they do so -- matters as much or more than the information itself. Mercer and Stewart inform even as they entertain. Which of those qualities matters most? Like it or not, that's become a tougher question for journalists to answer as consumers feel sated by information overload. Welcome, in short, to the post-news era.” In other word, Wilson-Smith saying that the Daily Show become not something weird or strange as it was looks like. Mercer and Stewart were intelligent, for example there questions when they interview people. Also you just surprise for their questions and you can’t guess. The conventional reporters didn’t ask, so they impose news producer to reply in short time, so that make them much prudence in their characters. The secret of perfect comedy is the fast to remove the follow up, so the score is a synopsis of news aimed reverberate the public senses. News today become a produce, and the way in which they do, so ways as much or more than the knowledge itself. Mercer and Stewart introduce the entertainment. Which of these types more important? You want or not, that's become more stringent question for reporters to answer as customers feel full by knowledge and turn to overburden. Now welcome to the time of news.
Any program before they started, search for ideas like how to get consumer's attention. Everybody knows that the satire news good way to attract people in any country around this world, especially, if this program speak about political or religious issues in funny style. After what happen in Middle East in what called Arab Spring, a lot of events happened it have been changed life style for a million of million of Arab People around Arab countries includes jobs, schools, and television. So according to, Mike Giglio: “After decades of disuse, the complex has recently been revived by Youssef, the Jon Stewart-styled host of a wildly popular satirical talk show, who is fast becoming Egypt's biggest new star. Youssef moved into the studio for the start of his second season late last year. Called Al Bernameg, Arabic for "The Program," the weekly show -- which sees Youssef dissecting the country's contentious politics with a Stewart-like mix of impishness and exasperation -- started after the 2011 revolution as a YouTube series filmed in Youssef's living room. Youssef discovered, is fertile ground for political satire these days. "I think it was just the right moment, doing it the right way," he says of his show. "It all happened so fast." In other word, Mike Giglio said: After years of years of wastage, and Youssef recently he copy up this program style for Jon Stewart, so Youssef become so famous in Egypt quickly. His program is called in Arabic Al Bernameg which means program in English, and it is once a week. So it discuss political and religious issues in comedy way. And those issues started after 2011 anarchy. Youssef saying that is just the moment of truth, I did it in a good way, and everything happened fast.
The people faced sad things in their life, even if they are kids, adults, workers, and students. So the people want to have funny things in their life, for example to tech students in comedy way to make them feel comfortable. According to, Skinner and Fowler: “It was our first examination as college freshman, a history exam, all essay. It was very scary. Seeming to sense our trepidation, the professor took five minutes before the exam to read short vignettes consisting of humorous accounts of the historical characters and events that we had so seriously studied in preparation for the exam. The stories evoked laughter even from the most stoic of students. Students were noticeably more relaxed after this brief interlude and, although I can't prove it, most likely performed better on the exam.” In other word, Skinner and Fowler said: we were taking our first test as beginner in college, it was a history quiz, every article was awful, but fear seems just like feeling. The professor took five minutes before test started, to read funny stories about famous characters in history. That is make us felt comfortable before test. Actually I can’t prove it, but for sure is a good idea before having a test.
In conclusion, all the people around the world, does not matter what language they speak, what country they are from, or what religion they believe? All are the same in feeling or in suffering. So we agree that all people in anywhere like funny ways more than serious ways. Maybe because we as a human being we faced hard situations, so we liked to escape from our serious life to have fun, by watching or reading in funny ways. I wrote about The Daily Show Program, Al Bernameg, and tech students in comedy way. I think that funny ways are like to remove all pains from our hearts. At that time, I believe that we need to have fun such as we need to eat, drink, and sleep. Finally, I hope those points improve my opinion about having fun in our life to change our mood.
Work Cited
Giglio, Mike. "Egypt's 'Daily Show'." Newsweek 161.10 (2013): 1. MAS Ultra –
School Edition. Web. 8 Apr. 2013.
Skinner, Michael E. "All Joking Aside: Five Reasons To Use Humor In The
Classroom." Education Digest: Essential Readings Condensed For
Quick Review 76.2 (2010): 19-21. ERIC. Web. 8 Apr. 2013.
Wilson-Smith, Anthony. "Making Fun of the News." Maclean's 16 Feb. 2004: 4.
MAS Ultra - School Edition. Web. 8 Apr. 2013.
LatifaAldakhil
Dr. Tim Conrad
English 2010
10/05/2013
Educate the Children of Illegal Immigrants
Do you have an idea how many illegal immigrants come to the United States every year? According to Bill Whitaker, “Illegal immigrants are just seven percent of Arizona's population” (cbsnews.com). Basically, Bill Whitaker is saying that Illegal immigrants make up about 7% of the people who live in Arizona. However, this 7% is just in one state. How about other states? A lot of illegal immigrants come to the United States because they think that they will have better life. Many people come from Mexico and Cuba…etc. They crossed the border to be in the United States and to have a good life. Many people who are illegal immigrants came from a poor country and their country is not strong economically. Also, they think if they get a job in the United States they will have a good chance to live happily for them and their kids, so they come here, and they don’t worry if it is legal or illegal. In addition, there are many children of illegal immigrants in the United States. A lot of American people are arguing that the children of illegal immigrants should or shouldn’t be educated. My opinion is America should educate the children of illegal immigrants because everyone has the right to be educated. However, some people think that America shouldn’t educate the children of illegal immigrants because education is not free as we thought, most of them didn’t speak English, to reduce increasing numbers of illegal immigrants, and to enforce the law.
Any country in the world gives education a lot of attention, more than anything else. Manu Goel writes, “The importance of education cannot be neglected by any nation” (http://mgoel.wrytestuff.com). In other words, Manu Goel believes that any country in the world will not disregard the value of education. Everyone has the right to be educated, even if he is poor, rich, legal or illegal. Also, the people who are illegal immigrants need to study because they want to communicate with other people who speak the English language. In addition, they need to learn the English language to understand the law of the United States and the rules of public places. For example, when I came to the United States, I made a mistake in the public transportation because I didn’t know the rules, and a lot of my friends from my country made the same mistake. Also they have to be educated to have a good future, to get jobs, and they need to be equal because they are still humans. In addition, we need to let the children of illegal immigrants to be educated to not become criminals. For example, if we didn’t let them study and go to the school, that means they will stay in their home, and they will probably do horrible things.
However, a lot of people think that we shouldn’t educate the children of illegal immigrants because education is not free, as what we thought. The American people paid a lot of money in taxes for education. Also, if there are a lot of students who are illegal immigrants, it means the American people pay a lot of money for education.
Even then, most of them don’t speak English language. So that is making it very hard for teachers. Also, they can’t communicate with others except those who speak their language, or the schools should bring a translator for them and that costs a lot of money. For example, when I came to the United States, I needed a translator in everywhere, such as hospitals and schools.
In addition, they will keep coming if we don’t reduce increasing numbers of illegal immigrants. By letting them living like American residents and not paying any money, they will keep coming forever. That is our responsibility to reduce them. They found the life here is good for them, and they can have children.
Also, illegal immigrants need to enforce the law. For example, if anyone can come to the United States without permission, it will be dangerous for us. Maybe some of them are criminals, and they escaped from prisons. In addition, I am a legal immigrant. I came from different culture, and I believe that some of the children of illegal immigrants have been coming from poor areas and they have bad morals and I don’t want my kids to learn bad morals.
In conclusion, illegal immigrants are still humans even if they are Illegal, so they deserve another chance for living. All sides have good reasons to show their points, like the people who believe that America should not educate the children of illegal immigrants because education is not free, most of the children didn’t speak English, to reduce increasing numbers of illegal immigrants, and to enforce the law. However, the people who think that America should educate the children of illegal immigrants have different reasons such as everyone has the right to educate, to communicate, to know the rules, to have a good future, and for the children to not become criminals. I believe that we should let them be educated because they are just children, and they are the future for our world.
Work Cited
Whitaker, Bill.” Does Illegal Immigration Lead to More Crime?”. http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-
18563_162-6703953.html. 23 July,2010. Web. 10 April, 2012.
Goel, Manu.” The Importance of Education”. http://mgoel.wrytestuff.com/swa230219.htm. 06 July,
2007. Web. 10 April, 2012.
Latifa, very well-written essay including your own analysis while also clearly summarizing your sources. Here is your essay again, with a few corrections I added:
Latifa Aldakhil
Dr. Tim Conrad
English 2010
October first, 2013
“Marriage between Islam and Culture”
Do you know that marriage in Islam is an act of worship? According to the Prophet Mohammed (peace and blessings be upon him) he said, “When a man gets married, he gets one half of the religion” (islambasics.com, par 3). It means after a man is married, he completes an important part of the religion. Marriage in our religion is really important, especially for men, because in our culture, almost all the men couldn’t live without women, but the women could live without men. That is the reason to allow a man to marry four women. Also, the women in our culture worry about their children more than about their husbands. For example, if any woman from my country is widowed or divorced and she has children, she prefers to take care of her children more than to marry again. Some people from different cultures and religions mix up our religion and culture. Our culture has a lot of mistakes and it came from an old culture before Islam, so Islam came to correct those mistakes in Arab culture. There are two articles written by Elie Elhadj, and another by Reem Sultan. The first author wrote about “In Defense of Pre-Islamic Arabian Culture”, and the second author wrote about “Marriage in Islam”. Culture and Islam are so different in marriage; Islam had different rules from our culture. Every culture has bad rules, especially about issues of honor. This issue is the most famous issue in the Middle East and India. Also this issue is not related to religion but to culture. If we looked up in the law for the punishment for man and woman in honor issue, we will see that the punishment in our culture is just for the woman and the man is free, but in our religion both of them should take their punishment equally, and it depends if they are married or not.
One of the mistakes in our culture is, if a woman and a man get engaged in Islam, they have the right to see each other, but in our culture they don’t have any right to see each other. Clearly, in Islam if the man decides to marry, his female relatives start to look for a girl who fits with his requirements. After they find a girl, they go to ask her family for marriage. Now her family starts to ask about the man who asked them for their daughter. If they find that he is a good man and he fits with their daughter, they go to ask the girl if she accepts him. Then the man comes to see the girl who wants to marry him and she can see the man who asked her to marry. After that, both of them have a few days to decide about the marriage. In the case of the woman, her family asked her, and if she answers “no” that is clear for them, but if she doesn’t give an answer because she is shy, that means she accepts him to marry. In the case of the man, if he comes back again for this family that means he likes her and he wants to marry her. But in our culture, the marriage in the beginning is the same as in Islam, but in the middle it is different, because some of the families don’t ask their daughter for marriage, they just choose for her what they want, and they never ask her opinion or let her see the man who will marry her until the night of the wedding. So these unfair rules for our culture are not related to Islam.
According to Reem Sultan, seems essential to discuss marriage forms, which existed before Islam. In those days many kinds of different marriages existed; there was no limit on the number of wives that any one man could have”(www.zawaj.com, par 1). In other words, Reem Sultan said, that marriage before Islam came had many forms for different marriages, and the men could have unlimited wives. So Islam came and put a rule to save women’s right that the men could not marry more than four wives. So that’s why we said that Islam took our grandfathers, our grandmothers, and us, from darkness to the light. You can’t imagine that the people lived in Jahiliyya age (the people who lived before Islam). Elie Elhadj wrote, “The pre-Islamic epoch in Arabia has become commonly known as the age of Jahiliyya, meaning the age of barbarism, darkness, and ignorance of God’s guidance” (daringopinion.com, par 1). Basically, Elie Elhadj is saying that the period before Islam in Arab land was known as Jahiliyya because the people in that period were illiterate and uneducated, and the time was darkness and a time lost from God’s commands. Also, that proves that Islam came to give the people a better life.
Marriage in Islam is so important for a lot of reasons. Reem Sultan said, “Reproduction in an organized wholesome manner is admittedly the ultimate objective in the institution of marriage” (http://www.zawaj.com, par 5). Reem Sultan believes that marriage is a kind of cloning in healthy orders and the final goals are to stay in married life. In addition to that, there are a lot of different reasons to support the importance of marriage. Such as, adultery has become a crime in Islam, so the best solution for that is marriage.
In conclusion, both authors wrote about Islam. Elie Elhadj offered in his article about the time before Islam and wrote about the similarity of things between Islam and Jahiliyya. Reem Sultan dealt with marriage in Islam, and she includes many important topics in her article, such as, marriage as an exclusive relationship, significance of marriage and functions of marriage. Finally, I tried to explain the difference between Islam and our culture in marriage. I have given some examples from our culture, and how it showed wrong rules. Islam has solutions for every problem. I hope you like what I wrote about my religion and my culture.
Works Cited
Elhadj, Elie. “In Defense of Pre-Islamic Arabian Culture."
http://www.daringopinion.com/Islam--In-Defense-of-Pre-Islamic-Arabian-Culture.php. Web. August, 2007.
Sultan, Reem. “Marriage in Islam”. http://www.zawaj.com/articles/marriage_reem.htm